EP0404465A2 - Dispositif pour enregistrer et/ou reproduire des signaux vidéo et audio - Google Patents

Dispositif pour enregistrer et/ou reproduire des signaux vidéo et audio Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0404465A2
EP0404465A2 EP90306592A EP90306592A EP0404465A2 EP 0404465 A2 EP0404465 A2 EP 0404465A2 EP 90306592 A EP90306592 A EP 90306592A EP 90306592 A EP90306592 A EP 90306592A EP 0404465 A2 EP0404465 A2 EP 0404465A2
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European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
audio signal
audio
frequency modulated
level
frequency
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Granted
Application number
EP90306592A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0404465B1 (fr
EP0404465A3 (fr
Inventor
Yoshiki C/O Patents Division Sony Corp Shirochi
Hirokazu C/O Patents Division Sony Corp Takaoka
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Sony Corp
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Sony Corp
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Publication of EP0404465A3 publication Critical patent/EP0404465A3/fr
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B20/00—Signal processing not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Circuits therefor
    • G11B20/10—Digital recording or reproducing
    • G11B20/12—Formatting, e.g. arrangement of data block or words on the record carriers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B27/00—Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
    • G11B27/36—Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/06—Systems for the simultaneous transmission of one television signal, i.e. both picture and sound, by more than one carrier
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N9/00—Details of colour television systems
    • H04N9/79—Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
    • H04N9/80—Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback
    • H04N9/802—Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback involving processing of the sound signal
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N9/00—Details of colour television systems
    • H04N9/79—Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
    • H04N9/80—Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback
    • H04N9/82—Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only
    • H04N9/83—Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only the recorded chrominance signal occupying a frequency band under the frequency band of the recorded brightness signal
    • H04N9/835—Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only the recorded chrominance signal occupying a frequency band under the frequency band of the recorded brightness signal involving processing of the sound signal
    • H04N9/8355—Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only the recorded chrominance signal occupying a frequency band under the frequency band of the recorded brightness signal involving processing of the sound signal the sound carriers being frequency multiplexed between the luminance carrier and the chrominance carrier

Definitions

  • This invention relates to apparatus for recording and/or reproducing video and audio signals.
  • Video tape recorders usually record a colour video signal by separating the luminance and chrominance signals, and then shifting the frequency domains of the separated signals.
  • the luminance signal is frequency modulated to a relatively high frequency band and the chrominance signal is frequency converted to a relatively low frequency band.
  • the lower chrominance band and upper luminance band are mixed to form a processed video signal which is recorded in successive oblique tracks on a magnetic tape by rotary magnetic heads.
  • An audio signal also is recorded on the same tape as the processed video signals; and in one type of VTR the audio signal is recorded in one or more longitudinal tracks adjacent to an edge of the video tape
  • VTR To increase the recording density of the processed video signal, another type of VTR transports the magnetic tape at a relatively slow speed. While this improves the recording density and permits a significantly longer recording time, slow tape speeds tend to deteriorate the quality of the audio signal. Accordingly, in this type of VTR, the audio signal is frequency modulated and mixed with the processed video signal to be recorded by the rotary heads in the same oblique tracks as the video signal.
  • FIG. 1 A typical frequency spectrum representing the mixed audio and processed video signals is illustrated in Figure 1, wherein the abscissa represents frequency and the ordinate represents signal level. It is seen that the frequency-converted chrominance signal C c is recorded with a carrier frequency f c in a range that is well below the frequency band occupied by the frequency modulated luminance component Y f .
  • the audio signals are frequency modulated and occupy a range disposed within the relatively narrow space between the frequency-­converted chrominance band and frequency modulated luminance band.
  • the audio signals comprise stereophonic signals; and the two channels are recorded in two separate bands A1 and A2.
  • one channel of the stereophonic signals frequency modulates one carrier frequency, for example, f a1 and the other channel of stereophonic signals modulates another carrier frequency, for example, f a2 .
  • the stereophonic channels are formed as a sum channel wherein the left-channel and right-channel audio components are summed (L+R), and a difference channel wherein the audio components are subtracted (L-R).
  • the summed components (L+R) modulate the carrier frequency f a1
  • the difference components (L-R) modulate the carrier frequency f a2
  • the carrier frequency f a1 is about 1.5 MHz and is frequency modulated to exhibit a frequency deviation of about 100 to 150 KHz.
  • the carrier frequency f a2 is about 1.7 MHz and is frequency modulated to exhibit a frequency deviation which also is about 100 to 150 KHz.
  • the carrier frequency of the upper sideband of the frequency modulated luminance signal Y f ranges from a low frequency of about 4.2 MHz to a high frequency of about 5.4 MHz.
  • the lower frequency (4.2 MHz) of the frequency modulated luminance signal represents the so-­called sync tip, that is, the magnitude of the horizontal synchronizing signal
  • the upper frequency (5.4 MHz) of the frequency modulated luminance signal represents the white peak level, that is, the maximum amplitude of the luminance signal.
  • the carrier frequency f c of the frequency converted chrominance signal C c typically exhibits a colour sub-carrier frequency of about 743 KHz.
  • the level of the frequency modulated luminance signal is greater than the level of the frequency-converted chrominance signal which, in turn, is greater than the level of the frequency-modulated audio signal components A1 and A2.
  • the recording circuitry is typically provided with a stereophonic matrix circuit for producing the sum signal (L+R) and the difference signal (L-R) from the separate left-­channel and right-channel audio signals supplied thereto.
  • the reproducing circuitry of such a VTR typically includes a frequency demodulator to demodulate audio signal components A1 and A2, and thereby recover the sum signal (L+R) and the difference signal (L-R), respectively, and these recovered sum and difference signals are applied to a receiver matrix circuit to reproduce therefrom the left-­channel and right-channel signals L and R.
  • THere are times, however, when it is desired to record two separate audio channels, that are not stereophonic signals, on the magnetic tape.
  • the audio component A1 may comprise a main audio channel
  • the audio component A2 may comprise an auxiliary audio channel.
  • a typical application of main and auxiliary audio channels is found in bilingual audio processing, wherein the main channel contains information of a primary language and the auxiliary channel contains information of a secondary language.
  • the main channel may represent the language in which the original actors speak (such as a foreign language) and the auxiliary channel may represent a dubbed, translated language (such as an English translation). In this case, when the main and auxiliary audio channels are played back, a user may select one or the other for sound reproduction.
  • VTRs having the capability of recording either stereophonic audio signals or main/auxiliary channel audio signals should be provided with means to supply the carrier frequencies f a1 and f a2 either with sum and difference stereophonic signals or with main and auxiliary audio channels, and means should be provided selectively to enable or disable the stereophonic matrix circuit.
  • the reproducing circuitry should be provided with means to recover the main/auxiliary audio channels or the sum and difference stereophonic signals, depending upon which type of audio signal is recorded (that is, whether bilingual or stereophonic audio signals are recorded).
  • the reproducing circuitry should include means selectively to enable and disable the reproducing matrix circuit.
  • stereophonic audio signals when stereophonic audio signals are to be recorded and reproduced they are subjected to one type of audio processing; but when bilingual (or other types of) audio signals are to be recorded and reproduced they are subjected to a different type of audio processing.
  • the VTR should include the requisite audio processors and means selectively to match the proper processor with the type of audio signal being recorded.
  • reproducing circuitry likewise should include different types of audio processors with means to match the proper processor with the particular type of audio signal being reproduced.
  • Such selecting and matching of the proper audio processor to the particular type of audio signal being recorded/reproduced may be effected by manually operated switches, wherein a user operates a particular switch to select a particular audio processor compatible with the type of audio signal being recorded. Likewise, during reproduction, the user carries out a similar manual switching operation.
  • apparatus for recording and reproducing video and audio signals on a record medium, wherein the audio signal may be of at least two different types subjected to respectively different types of audio processing
  • said apparatus comprising: a recording section, including video signal supply means for supplying a video signal having blanking intervals therein; frequency modulating means for producing frequency modulated audio signal components; level adjusting means for selectively adjusting the level of at least one frequency modulated audio signal component during blanking intervals as a function of the type of audio signal being modulated; and combining means for combining the frequency modulated audio signal components and the video signal; transducer means for recording the combined frequency modulated audio signal components and video signal on a record medium and for reproducing combined frequency modulated audio signal components and video signal from a record medium; and a reproducing section, including separating means for separating the reproduced frequency modulated audio signal components from the reproduced video signal; level detecting means for detecting the level of at least one separated frequency modulated audio signal component during blanking intervals; frequency demodulating means for producing
  • apparatus for recording video and audio signals on a record medium, wherein the audio signal may be of at least two different types subjected to respectively different types of audio processing, said apparatus comprising video signal supply means for supplying a video signal having blanking intervals therein; frequency modulating means for producing frequency modulated audio signal components; level adjusting means for selectively adjusting the level of at least one frequency modulated audio signal component during blanking intervals to indicate the type of audio signal being modulated; and combining means for combining the frequency modulated audio signal components and the video signal for recording.
  • apparatus for reproducing video and audio signals from a record medium, wherein the audio signals are recorded as frequency modulated audio signal components and may be of at least two different types subjected to respectively different types of audio processing and wherein the type of audio signal is indicated by the level of at least one of said frequency modulated audio signal components during an interval thereof corresponding to a blanking interval of said video signal
  • said apparatus comprising: separating means for separating reproduced frequency modulated audio signal components from reproduced video signals; level detecting means for detecting the level of at least one separated frequency modulated audio signal component during blanking intervals; frequency demodulating means for producing demodulated audio signals from frequency modulated audio signal components; and audio signal processing means responsive to the detected level of the separated frequency modulated audio signal component to process the demodulated audio signals in accordance with a selected type of audio processing.
  • apparatus for recording and reproducing video and audio signals on a record medium wherein the audio signal may be of at least two different types subjected to respectively different types of audio processing.
  • a recording section includes a frequency modulator for producing frequency modulated audio signal components and a level adjuster for selectively adjusting the level of at least one FM audio signal component during video signal blanking intervals as a function of the type of audio signal being modulated.
  • the FM audio signal components are combined with a video signal for recording.
  • the apparatus also includes a reproducing section which separates the reproduced FM audio signal components from the video signal and detects the level of at least one separated FM audio signal component during video signal blanking intervals.
  • the audio signals are demodulated and processed in a manner consistent with the type of audio signal that had been recorded, the processing being a function of the detected level of the separated FM audio signal component.
  • the FM audio signal components may comprise two audio channels, each being frequency modulated onto a respective carrier.
  • a selector such as a switching arrangement, selects one type or another type of audio signal to be supplied to the modulators. Depending upon which type of audio signal is selected, the level of at least one of the modulated carriers is changed during the video signal blanking intervals.
  • the blanking intervals comprise vertical blanking intervals. In another embodiment, the blanking intervals comprise horizontal blanking intervals.
  • one type of audio signal comprises a stereophonic signal; and the recording section includes a matrix circuit to produce sum and difference audio channels which are supplied to the respective modulator circuits.
  • Another type of audio signal comprises main and auxiliary audio channels, as are used in bilingual audio programmes, with the main and auxiliary audio channels being supplied to the respective modulator circuits.
  • the level of one or both of the frequency modulated carriers during the video blanking intervals is increased when the main and auxiliary audio channels are supplied to the modulators, thereby indicating the type of audio signal being recorded.
  • level detection may be carried out in the reproducing circuitry by detecting the video blanking intervals in the reproduced video signal and generating a sampling signal during (preferably, coextensive with) the blanking interval to sample the level of the reproduced FM audio signal component(s).
  • the sampled level is compared to a reference amplitude; and in one embodiment, this reference amplitude is produced by sensing the envelope amplitude of the FM audio signal component(s) extant between blanking intervals.
  • the reproducing circuitry may include a processing circuit for processing the audio signal components after the FM demodulation thereof.
  • a processing circuit for processing the audio signal components after the FM demodulation thereof.
  • either processed or unprocessed audio signals are selected to be coupled to the output of the apparatus.
  • the selection is made by a switching arrangement.
  • the reproducing circuitry may include a stereophonic matrix circuit which combines the demodulated sum and difference components to produce left and right channel audio signals.
  • the recorded audio signals are not stereophonic signals, for example, if they comprise main and auxiliary channels (as provided in bilingual audio programmes), the aforementioned switching arrangement responds to the samples envelope of the FM audio signal component(s) to select either the matrixed left and right stereophonic channels or the main and auxiliary channels. That is, the audio processing circuit is selectively connected or by-passed, depending upon the level of the FM audio signal component(s) during the blanking intervals.
  • the recording circuitry includes input terminals 1 and 2, an audio signal processing circuit 5, frequency modulators 13 and 14, a level adjusting circuit 16 and a combining circuit 17.
  • the terminals 1 and 2 receive audio signals supplied thereto in separate channels. For example, if the recording circuitry is to record stereophonic audio signals, a left-channel audio signal SL is supplied to the terminal 1 and a right-channel audio signal SR is supplied to the terminal 2.
  • a main audio channel SA1 is supplied to the terminal 1 and an auxiliary audio channel is supplied to the terminal 2.
  • the main audio channel SA1 may contain audio information in the language in which an original programme is recorded (for example, English) and the auxiliary audio channel SA2 may contain audio information representing a foreign language for dubbing a foreign translation of that programme.
  • the respective channels of audio signals are filtered by low pass filters 3 and 4, respectively.
  • the stereophonic signal processing circuit 5 preferably comprises a matrix circuit (and is referred to hereinafter simply as a matrix circuit) of known type.
  • the matrix circuit 5 is coupled to the low pass filters 3 and 4, and produces sum and difference audio signals (SL+SR) and (SL-SR) from the filtered left and right channel audio signals supplied to the terminals 1 and 2. It is recognized that if main and auxiliary audio channels are supplied to the terminals 1 and 2, the matrix circuit 5 would attempt to combine those channels to produce sum and difference signals, even although, such sum and difference main and auxiliary signals are unintelligible. This embodiment prevents such unintelligible signals from being recorded.
  • the sum channel (SL+SR) produced by the matrix circuit 5 is coupled to one input 6b of a selector switch 6, and the difference channel (SL-SR) is coupled to one input 7b of a selector switch 7, the switches 6 and 7 merely being shown schematically.
  • THe switch 6 includes another input 6a coupled directly to the low pass filter 3 and, similarly, the switch 7 includes another input 7a coupled directly to the low pass filter 4. Accordingly, the switches 6 and 7 select audio signals that are processed by the matrix circuit 5 or audio signals that are not processed by the matrix circuit 5.
  • the switches 6 and 7 are coupled to the frequency modulators 13 and 14, respectively.
  • the frequency modulator 13 modulates a carrier frequency f a1 with the audio signal supplied thereto by the switch 6.
  • the frequency modulator 14 modulates a carrier frequency f a2 with the audio signal supplied by the switch 7.
  • f a1 1.5 MHz
  • f a2 1.7 MHz.
  • the switching state, or condition, of the switches 6 and 7 is determined by a control signal SS supplied to a control input terminal 12.
  • the control signal controls the switches to couple the main and auxiliary audio channels provided at the outputs of the low pass filters 3 and 4 to the frequency modulators 13 and 14 and, additionally, closes another switch 11, to be described.
  • the control signal is present.
  • the switches 6 and 7 are operated to connect the sum and difference audio signals produced by the matrix circuit 5 to the frequency modulators 13 and 14, respectively; and, in addition, the switch 11 is opened.
  • the control signal SS is absent when stereophonic audio signals are supplied to the terminals 1 and 2, and the control signal is present when main and auxiliary audio channels are supplied to the terminals 1 and 2.
  • the frequency modulated audio signals produced by the frequency modulators 13 and 14 exhibit a frequency deviation range of about ⁇ 100 KHz. These frequency modulated signals are supplied to the level adjusting circuit 16 by a mixing circuit 15. It will be appreciated that the FM audio signals produced by the frequency modulators 13 and 14 exhibit the frequency characteristics shown in Figure 1 as components A1 and A2, respectively
  • the level adjusting circuit 16 changes the level, or envelope amplitude, of the FM audio signals supplied thereto in response to a level control signal produced by the switch 11. For example, and as will be described, when the switch 11 is closed, the envelope amplitude of the FM audio signal is increased by a predetermined amount. Conversely, when the switch 11 is opened, no change in the envelope amplitude of the FM signals is produced. It will be appreciated that, if desired, the level control signal supplied to the level adjusting circuit 16 by the switch 11 may be operative to reduce the envelope amplitude of the Fm audio signals.
  • the level control signal applied to the level adjusting circuit 16 by the switch is produced by a synchronizing signal separator circuit 9 (referred to as a sync separator) and a pulse generator.
  • the sync separator 9 is coupled to an input terminal 8 arranged to receive the luminance component Y of the video signal to be recorded.
  • the sync separator 9 separates the vertical synchronizing signal P v from the luminance component.
  • the sync separator 9 functions to separate the horizontal synchronizing signal from the luminance component.
  • the separated synchronizing signal is supplied to a pulse generator 10 to trigger it to produce a pulse P b .
  • the pulse generator 10 may comprise a one-shot circuit, or the like, to generate the pulse P b of predetermined duration.
  • this duration is equal to the blanking interval in which the separated synchronizing signal is provided.
  • the pulse P b may exhibit a duration equal to the vertical blanking interval or, in the alternative embodiment the pulse P b may exhibit a duration equal to the horizontal blanking interval.
  • the switch 11 When the switch 11 is closed, the pulse P b is supplied to the level adjusting circuit 16.
  • the level adjusting circuit 16 operates to increase the envelope amplitude of the FM audio signals supplied thereto over an interval substantially equal to the blanking interval included in the video signal.
  • the output of the level adjusting circuit 16 comprises an FM audio signal whose envelope amplitude is selectively increased during the video signal blanking intervals, depending upon whether the control signal SS is applied to the input terminal 12.
  • the level adjusting circuit 16 provides an FM audio signal A s whose envelope amplitude remains constant, even during the blanking intervals.
  • the level adjusting circuit 16 produces and FM audio signal A a whose envelope amplitude is increased during the video blanking intervals.
  • This level adjusted FM audio signal A s /A a is applied to the combining circuit 17 together with a frequency modulated luminance signal Y f supplied to an input terminal 18, and a frequency-­converted chrominance signal C c supplied to an input terminal 19.
  • the frequency characteristics of the frequency modulated luminance signal and the frequency-converted chrominance signal are illustrated in Figure 1. It is appreciated, then, that the frequency modulated audio signal A s /A a may be combined with the frequency modulated luminance signal Y f and with the frequency-converted chrominance signal C c with substantially no distortion therein.
  • the resultant mixed signal S m is applied to transducers 21a and 21b via a recording amplifier 20.
  • the transducers 21a and 21b are mounted for rotary operation and scan successive, parallel, oblique tracks across a moving magnetic tape. The manner in which such tracks are recorded is known. Suffice it to say that the FM audio signals are recorded concurrently with the video signals Y f and C c .
  • left-channel and right-­channel components of stereophonic audio signals are supplied to the terminals 1 and 2, respectively. Accordingly, the control signal SS is not applied to the input terminal 12.
  • the left-channel audio signal SL is supplied to the matrix circuit 5 by the low pass filter 3 which limits the uppermost frequencies therein to be less than the video signal horizontal line frequency f h .
  • the right-­channel audio signal SR is supplied to the matrix circuit 5 by the low pass filter 4 which limits the uppermost frequencies therein to be less than the horizontal line frequency f h .
  • the switches 6 and 7 operate to couple the sum and difference channels (SL+SR) and (SL-SR) from the matrix circuit 5 to the frequency modulators 13 and 14, respectively.
  • the carrier frequency f a1 is modulated by the sum channel to produce the FM audio signal component AL; and carrier frequency f a2 is modulated by the difference channel to produce the FM audio signal component AR.
  • FM audio signal components are combined in the mixing circuit 15 and supplied to the combining circuit 17 by the level adjusting circuit 16.
  • the combined, or mixed FM audio signal components A s are not subjected to level adjustment in the level adjusting circuit 16 because the switch 11 remains opened and, thus, does not supply a level control signal to the level adjusting circuit 16.
  • the amplitude of the FM audio signal components remains substantially constant even during the video signal blanking intervals.
  • These FM audio signal components A s are combined with the frequency-­modulated luminance signal Y f and the frequency-converted chrominance signal C c to produce the recording signal S m which is amplified and recorded in successive tracks on the record medium (for example, on magnetic tape) by the transducers 21a and 21b.
  • main and auxiliary channels SA1 and SA2 are applied to the terminals 1 and 2, respectively.
  • the control signal SS is supplied to the input terminal 12. Consequently, the switches 6 and 7 are operated to couple the filtered main and auxiliary channels to the frequency modulators 13 and 14, respectively. Also, the switch 11 is closed to supply the level adjusting circuit 16 with a level control signal.
  • Figure 3A represents the luminance component Y supplied to the input terminal 8 having vertical synchronizing signals S v which occur during the vertical blanking intervals T b .
  • the sync separator 9 serves to extract the vertical synchronizing signal S v from the luminance signal to produce vertical synchronizing pulses P v , shown in Figure 3B. It is recognized that successive ones of the extracted vertical synchronizing pulses P v define the field interval T v .
  • Each separated vertical synchronizing pulse P v triggers the pulse generator 10 to produce the level control pulse P b of duration equal to the vertical blanking interval T b .
  • These periodic level control pulses P b are shown in Figure 3C.
  • the level control pulses P b are supplied to the level adjusting circuit 16 to vary the envelope amplitude of the FM audio signals supplied thereto.
  • the level adjusting circuit 16 may comprise a gain controlled amplifier whose gain is increased in response to the level control pulses P b . Since the level control pulses P b are produced only during the vertical blanking interval T b , the envelope amplitude of the FM audio signal components is increased only during the vertical blanking intervals.
  • FIG 3E illustrates the increased envelope amplitude of the FM audio signal components A a during the vertical blanking intervals T b .
  • this selectively adjusted FM audio signal A a (as shown in Figure 3E) that is combined with the frequency-modulated luminance signal Y f and the frequency-converted chrominance signal C c for recording.
  • Figure 3E is to be compared with Figure 3D which illustrates the envelope of the stereophonic FM audio signal components A s . It is seen that the envelope amplitude of the stereophonic FM audio signal components A s remains substantially constant and is not increased during the vertical blanking periods T b because, when the stereophonic left-channel and right-channel signals are supplied to the terminals 1 and 2, the control signal SS is absent and the switch 11 remains opened. Hence, the matrix circuit 5 is connected to the frequency modulators 13 and 14; and the level control pulses P b , although produced by the pulse generator 10, are not supplied to the level adjusting circuit 16. In the absence of these level control signals, the gain of the gain controlled amplifier which may comprise the level adjusting circuit 16 remains constant.
  • the type of audio signal whch is recorded by the transducers 21a and 21b may be indicated by the envelope amplitude of the FM audio signal components.
  • one type of audio signal for example, stereophonic signals
  • the other type for example, bilingual audio signals
  • the envelope amplitude of the FM audio components during the video blanking intervals may be varied as a function of the type of audio signal. That is, if three or more different types of audio signals are to be accommodated, then two, three or more different envelope amplitude levels may be provided during the video blanking intervals, with each envelope amplitude indicating a respective type of audio signal.
  • the sync separator 9 functions to separate the horizontal synchronizing pulses from the luminance signal supplied to the input terminal 8.
  • the level adjusting circuit 16 may be connected to the output of one or the other of the frequency modulators 13 and 14, if desired.
  • the level adjusting circuit 16 may be connected so as to adjust the envelope amplitude of only one of these components.
  • the illustrated reproducing circuitry includes the transducers 21a and 21b, audio and video separating circuits comprising filters 23, 24, 25 and 26, frequency demodulators 27 and 28, an audio signal processing circuit 29, selector switches 30 and 31 and a level detector having a sampling circuit 35.
  • the transducers 21a and 21b may be the very same transducers used to record the combined audio and video signals, as discussed above in conjunction with Figure 2.
  • transducers 21a and 21b shown in Figure 4 may be included in reproducing apparatus which does not include a recording section.
  • the transducers 21a and 21b are of known form and are rotably driven for scanning successive tracks across a magnetic tape.
  • a playback amplifier 22 is coupled to the transducers 21a and 21b to produce an amplified mixed signal S m having audio and video components.
  • the mixed signal S m is applied to the separating circuits shown as the filters 23 to 26.
  • the filters 23 and 24 are bandpass filters to pass the FM audio signal components produced by the frequency modulators 13 and 14, respectively.
  • the bandpass filter 23 exhibits a relatively narrow pass band, such as about 200 KHz, centred on the carrier frequency f a1 , such as 1.5 MHz.
  • the bandpass filter 24 has a limited pass band, such as about 200 KHz, centred on the carrier frequency f a2 , such as 1.7 MHz.
  • the bandpass filter 23 separates this FM audio signal component AL from the reproduced mixed signals S m .
  • the bandpass filter 24 separates this FM audio signal component AR from the reproduced mixed signals.
  • main and auxiliary channels are recorded by the circuitry shown in Figure 2, then the bandpass filters 23 and 24 separate the main and auxiliary FM audio signal components AA1 and AA2, respectively, from the reproduced mixed signals.
  • the output of the amplifier 22 also is coupled to the high pass filter 25 and to the low pass filter 26.
  • the high pass filter separates the frequency modulated luminance signal Y f from the reproduced mixed signals S m .
  • the frequency characteristic of the high pass filter 25 should be similar to, or at least compatible with, the frequency characteristic of the luminance signal Y f shown in Figure 1.
  • the output of the high pass filter 25 is coupled to a frequency demodulator 32 which demodulates the frequency modulated luminance signal Y f to recover the luminance component Y′. This recovered luminance component is supplied to a video signal processing circuit 41 which forms no part of the present invention per se.
  • the low pass filter 26 separates the frequency-converted chrominance signal C c from the reproduced mixed signals S m . Accordingly, the frequency characteristic of the low pass filter 26 should be similar to, or at least compatible with, the frequency characteristic for the frequency-converted chrominance signal C c illustrated in Figure 1.
  • the separated frequency-converted chrominance signal C c is supplied by the low pass filter 26 to the video signal processing circuit 41.
  • the video signal processing circuit 41 functions in known manner to produce a suitable colour television signal.
  • the separated FM audio signal components AL/AA1 and AR/AA2 produced by the bandpass filters 23 and 24, respectively, depending upon whether stereophonic or main/auxiliary channel audio signals are recorded, are coupled to the frequency demodulators 27 and 28, respectively, which serve to demodulate the audio signals which had been used in the recording circuitry to modulate the carriers f a1 and f a2 , respectively.
  • the frequency demodulator 27 demodulates the audio signal which was used to modulate the carrier frequency of 1.5 MHz
  • the frequency demodulator 28 demodulates the audio signal that had modulated the carrier frequency 1.7 MHz.
  • the frequency demodulator 27 demodulates the sum component (SL+SR) and the frequency demodulator 28 demodulates the difference component (SL-SR) from the modulated carriers supplied thereto by the bandpass filters 23 and 24, respectively.
  • the frequency demodulator 27 demodulates the main audio channel SA1 from the FM audio signal component AA1 passed by the bandpass filter 23 and the frequency demodulator 28 demodulates the auxiliary audio channel SA2 from the FM audio signal component AA2 that is passed by the bandpass filter 24.
  • the demodulated audio signals provided at the outputs of the frequency demodulators 27 and 28 are coupled to the audio processing circuit 29 which, for example, comprises a stereophonic matrix circuit.
  • the outputs of the frequency demodulators 27 and 28 are coupled directly to inputs 30a and 31a of the selector switches 30 and 31, respectively.
  • the matrix circuit 29 may be of known form and combines the sum difference components to produce a left channel audio signal SL and a right channel signal SR, respectively. These left channel and right channel audio signals are applied to the inputs 30b and 31b of the selector switches 30 and 31, respectively. It is recognized, depending upon the switching condition of the selector switches 30 and 31, that either matrix circuit 29 is by-passed such that the demodulated audio signals produced by the frequency demodulators 27 and 28 are coupled to output terminals 39 and 40, or the left channel audio signal SL or the main audio channel SA1, as represented by the designation "SL/SA1". Likewise, the output terminal 40 is provided either with the recovered right channel audio signal SR or the auxiliary audio channel SA2, as represented by the designation "SR/SA2".
  • the selector switches 30 and 31 are controlled by a control signal produced as a function of the envelope amplitude of the FM audio signals reproduced from the record medium. Accordingly, the switching condition of the selector switches 30 and 31 is determined by the detected amplitude of the FM audio signal amplitude.
  • the envelope amplitude detector comprises an envelope detector 36, the sampling circuit 35, a filter 37 and a comparator 38.
  • the envelope detector 36 is coupled to the output of one of the bandpass filters 23 and 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the envelope detector 36 is coupled to receive the FM audio signal component passed by the bandpass filter 23. It will be appreciated that the particular FM audio signal component supplied to the envelope detector 36 is not critical and, in yet another alternative embodiment, both components may be supplied to the envelope detector 36.
  • the envelope detector 36 may be of known form and detects the envelope of the FM audio signal components supplied thereto.
  • the detected envelope S d is supplied to the sampling circuit 35 whereat the amplitude of this envelope is sampled at predetermined time intervals determined by sampling pulses produced by a pulse generator 34.
  • sampling pulses are produced during the blanking intervals of the reproduced video signal, such as the vertical blanking intervals.
  • Such sampling pulses may be of a duration that is coextensive with the blanking interval.
  • the sampled envelope amplitude V b produced by the sampling circuit 35 is coupled to the comparator 38 whereat it is compared to the output of the low pass filter 37.
  • the low pass filter 37 is coupled to the envelope detector 36 and produces a signal whose amplitude V a is approximately equal to the envelope amplitude S d of the FM audio signal component at times other than the blanking intervals. From Figure 3E, it will be appreciated that the level changes in the envelope of the FM audio signal components during the blanking intervals may be thought of as rapidly changing components.
  • the low pass filter 37 blocks these rapidly changing components and, thus, the low pass filter 37 effectively passes the envelope amplitude of the FM audio signal component extant between blanking intervals.
  • This filtered envelope level V a is supplied to another input of the comparator 38 and functions as a reference amplitude with which the sampled level V b is compared.
  • the comparator 38 supplies to the selector switches 30 and 31 the control signal V c which is a function of the comparison of the sampled level V b to the reference level V a . If the sampled level V b does not exceed the reference level V a (or, alternatively, if the sampled level does not exceed the reference level V a by at least a predetermined amount), the control signal V c establishes the switching condition of selector switches 30 and 31 such that the left channel and right channel audio signals produced by the matrix circuit 29 are coupled to the output terminals 39 and 40. The matrix circuit 29 are coupled to the output terminals 39 and 40.
  • V b > V a or alternatively, if the sampled level exceeds the reference level by more than a predetermined amount, the control signal V c establishes the switching condition of the selector switches 30 and 31 such that the matrix circuit 29 is by-passed and the demodulated main and auxiliary audio channels produced by the FM demodulators 27 and 28 are coupled to the output terminals 39 and 40.
  • the sampling pulses P′ b produced by the pulse generator 34 are derived from synchronizing pulses P′ v separated from the demodulated luminance component Y′ by a synchronizing signal separator circuit (or sync separator) 33.
  • the pulse generator 34 may comprise a one-shot circuit triggered by the separated synchronizing pulse P′ v to produce a sampling pulse P′ b of predetermined duration. As mentioned above, in one embodiment, this duration preferably is equal to the blanking interval.
  • the sync separator 33 separates vertical synchronizing pulses from the demodulated luminance component and the pulse generator 34 generates the sampling pulses P′ b of duration equal to the vertical blanking interval.
  • the sync separator 33 separates horizontal synchronizing pulses from the luminance component and the pulse generator 34 generates sampling pulses P′ b of duration equal to the horizontal blanking interval.
  • the transducers 21a and 21b rotate to scan successive tracks across the record medium and thereby recover the mixed signals S m .
  • the frequency modulated luminance signal Y f , frequency-converted chrominance signal C c , and the FM audio signal components which had been recorded are separated from the mixed signals.
  • the bandpass filters 23 and 24 separate the respective FM audio signal components, and each is demodulated by a respective one of the frequency demodulators 27 and 28.
  • the frequency demodulator 32 serves to demodulate the luminance component Y′ from the frequency modulated luminance signal Y f .
  • Figure 5A illustrates the recovered luminance component Y′ having vertical blanking intervals T′ b in which vertical synchronizing pulses S′ v are provided. These vertical synchronizing pulses are separated by the sync separator 33 to recover the pulses P′ v shown in Figure 5B. These pulses trigger the pulse generator 34 to produce the sampling pulses P′ b shown in Figure 5C.
  • This envelope S d is filtered by the low pass filter 37 to produce the reference amplitude V s shown in Figure 5E.
  • This reference amplitude exhibits a magnitude V1′ which is derived from the magnitude of the envelope extant between blanking intervals T′ b .
  • the sampling circuit 35 responds to the sampling pulses P′ b ( Figure 5C) to sample the detected envelope S d during the blanking intervals.
  • the sampled envelope amplitude V b is illustrated in Figure 5F; and it is seen that the sampled envelope exhibits a magnitude V1′ substantially equal to the magnitude of the reference amplitude V a .
  • the output control signal V c exhibits a magnitude that is substantially equal to zero, as shown in Figure 5G.
  • the selector switches 30 and 31 respond to this zero amplitude control signal V c to couple the outputs of the matrix circuit 29 to the output terminals 39 and 40.
  • the matrix circuit 29 is connected in circuit to recover the left channel and right channel audio signals SL and SR (which are supplied originally to the terminals 1 and 2 of the recording circuitry shown in Figure 2) from the demodulated audio signals and to supply those audio signals SL and SR to the output terminals 39 and 40.
  • this type of audio signal is subjected to an appropriate audio signal processing operation at the reproducing circuitry.
  • the envelope detector 36 produces the detected envelope signal S d shown in Figure 5H.
  • the peak-to-peak magnitude of the envelope during video blanking intervals T′ b is equal to V2 and the peak-to-peak magnitude of the envelope extant between the video blanking intervals is equal to V1. It is seen that this magnitude V1 is the same for both stereophonic signals and bilingual (or other types of) signals.
  • the filter 37 is effectively non-responsive to rapid changes in the envelope during the blanking intervals and, thus, the filter produces the reference amplitude V a shown in Figure 5I, having a magnitude equal to V1′ which is substantially the same as that of the reference amplitude produced when stereophonic audio signals are recovered, as shown in Figure 5E.
  • the sampling circuit 35 responds to the sampling pulses P′ b ( Figure 5C) to sample the detected envelope S d during the video blanking intervals.
  • Figure 5J illustrates the sampled envelope, and it is appreciated that the magnitude of the sampled envelope is equal to V2′ which is greater than the reference amplitude V1′.
  • the selector switches 30 and 31 respond to the control signal V c shown in Figure 5K to couple the outputs of the frequency demodulators 27 and 28 directly to the output terminals 39 and 40.
  • the matrix circuit 29 thus is by-passed; and the demodulated main and auxiliary channels are supplied as the audio signal outputs of the reproducing circuitry.
  • a particular type of audio processing may be selected automatically as a function of the amplitude of the FM audio signal envelope during video signal blanking intervals.
  • a stereophonic matrixing operation is selected when the amplitude of the FM audio signal envelope during the blanking intervals is equal to the amplitude thereof extant between those blanking intervals.
  • the matrixing operation is by-passed when the amplitude of the FM audio signal envelope during the blanking intervals differs from the amplitude between those intervals. For example, if the amplitude during the blanking intervals is greater than the envelope amplitude extant between those intervals, the matrixing operation is by-passed.
  • the processing circuits may be selectively enabled as a function of the level of the control signal SS and as a function of the detected envelope amplitude.
  • stereophonic and bilingual audio signals have been discussed above, it will be appreciated that other types of audio signals may be accommodated.
EP90306592A 1989-06-19 1990-06-18 Dispositif pour enregistrer et/ou reproduire des signaux vidéo et audio Expired - Lifetime EP0404465B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP156585/89 1989-06-19
JP1156585A JP2785337B2 (ja) 1989-06-19 1989-06-19 磁気記録再生装置

Publications (3)

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EP0404465A2 true EP0404465A2 (fr) 1990-12-27
EP0404465A3 EP0404465A3 (fr) 1992-01-02
EP0404465B1 EP0404465B1 (fr) 1995-07-26

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EP90306592A Expired - Lifetime EP0404465B1 (fr) 1989-06-19 1990-06-18 Dispositif pour enregistrer et/ou reproduire des signaux vidéo et audio

Country Status (6)

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US (1) US5359463A (fr)
EP (1) EP0404465B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2785337B2 (fr)
KR (1) KR0178516B1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2019081C (fr)
DE (1) DE69021140T2 (fr)

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EP0411948A2 (fr) * 1989-08-04 1991-02-06 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Appareil de reproduction de signaux audio
EP0462775A2 (fr) * 1990-06-20 1991-12-27 Sony Corporation Dispositif de reproduction de signal
GB2269509A (en) * 1992-08-07 1994-02-09 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Discriminating audio signals
US6963860B1 (en) * 1998-08-13 2005-11-08 Sony Corporation Information recording and reproducing system and method and distribution medium

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JPH0380463A (ja) * 1989-08-22 1991-04-05 Canon Inc Ｆｍ変調信号再生装置
JP3036828B2 (ja) * 1990-11-29 2000-04-24 キヤノン株式会社 記録装置
KR960007947B1 (ko) 1993-09-17 1996-06-17 엘지전자 주식회사 가라오케-콤팩트 디스크(karaoke-cd) 및 이를 이용한 오디오 제어장치
JP3341566B2 (ja) * 1996-02-15 2002-11-05 ソニー株式会社 信号伝送方法及び装置、並びに信号再生方法及び装置
US5903699A (en) * 1996-03-18 1999-05-11 Victor Company Of Japan, Ltd. Apparatus for reproducing a signal from a magnetic recording medium
JPH10150387A (ja) * 1996-11-18 1998-06-02 Nec Corp ホットスタンバイ切替器
US7124425B1 (en) 1999-03-08 2006-10-17 Immersion Entertainment, L.L.C. Audio/video system and method utilizing a head mounted apparatus with noise attenuation
US6578203B1 (en) 1999-03-08 2003-06-10 Tazwell L. Anderson, Jr. Audio/video signal distribution system for head mounted displays
US20020057364A1 (en) 1999-05-28 2002-05-16 Anderson Tazwell L. Electronic handheld audio/video receiver and listening/viewing device
US7210160B2 (en) 1999-05-28 2007-04-24 Immersion Entertainment, L.L.C. Audio/video programming and charging system and method
AU2003275466A1 (en) 2002-10-07 2004-05-04 Immersion Entertainment, Llc System and method for providing event spectators with audio/video signals pertaining to remote events
US7593687B2 (en) 2003-10-07 2009-09-22 Immersion Entertainment, Llc System and method for providing event spectators with audio/video signals pertaining to remote events
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EP0411948A2 (fr) * 1989-08-04 1991-02-06 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Appareil de reproduction de signaux audio
EP0411948A3 (en) * 1989-08-04 1992-01-15 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Audio signal reproducing apparatus
EP0462775A2 (fr) * 1990-06-20 1991-12-27 Sony Corporation Dispositif de reproduction de signal
EP0462775A3 (en) * 1990-06-20 1993-06-30 Sony Corporation Signal reproducing apparatus
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GB2269509A (en) * 1992-08-07 1994-02-09 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Discriminating audio signals
GB2269509B (en) * 1992-08-07 1996-03-20 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Discriminating audio signals
US6963860B1 (en) * 1998-08-13 2005-11-08 Sony Corporation Information recording and reproducing system and method and distribution medium

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US5359463A (en) 1994-10-25
JPH0322686A (ja) 1991-01-31
KR910001643A (ko) 1991-01-31
JP2785337B2 (ja) 1998-08-13
DE69021140D1 (de) 1995-08-31
CA2019081A1 (fr) 1990-12-19
EP0404465B1 (fr) 1995-07-26
CA2019081C (fr) 1998-07-14
EP0404465A3 (fr) 1992-01-02
KR0178516B1 (ko) 1999-04-15
DE69021140T2 (de) 1995-12-07

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